In the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Los Angeles Sparks selected Stanford forward Cameron Brink, Tennessee forward Rickea Jackson and Southern Cal forward McKenzie Forbes.
The Sparks were looking to improve their length, scoring, and rebounding with their Draft choices.
“We were the number-one analytic defensive team after the All Star break last year,” said Sparks head coach Curt Miller. “But analytically where we lacked which we were still low in the standings in rebounding and we were still low in the standings in rim protection.”
LA Sparks guard Lexie Brown talks about what the team can do build a culture of dominance this season pic.twitter.com/jhvLgDEiTM
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Brink is a three-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year who helped the Cardinal win the 2021 NCAA championship. She is also a two-time Pac-12 Player of the Year. Her 17.4 points and 11.9 rebounds per game would earn her the Lisa Leslie award and Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
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“Brink, an outstanding defender who can block shots who led the nation the last two years in blocked shots,” said Sparks co-owner Magic Johnson. “She added something to her game this season where she can shoot from the three-point line.”
Jackson has been named on the SEC All-Tournament team three times during her career with the Lady Vols. She is the sixth all-time leading scorer of the program with 2,261 career points. In December of 2021, Jackson made a career-high of 40 points.
Miller noted how her versatility and size were a main reason why they drafted Jackson.
“Ultimately does she give you the opportunity to be a big three and play with really big versatile lineups,” Miller said. “I was with Team USA when we played against Tennessee in the preseason this year and she’s really impressive.”
Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley was elated to draft Forbes, who helped Women of Troy basketball reach the Elite Eight this season. During her senior year at Harvard, Forbes led the Crimson to the WNIT Semifinals as a team captain.
Pebley watched Forbes compete during her two seasons at Harvard because Pebley was studying under Harvard men’s basketball coach Tommy Amaker.
“I watched them in her WNIT run, her lead that team when she was in Harvard and then I get this job and she’s also here at USC,” Pebley said. “Seeing her help build a program and partnering with her coach and her university and with stars … the IQ she brings to the table is tremendous.”
Forbes was second in scoring for the Women of Troy with 14.3 points per game and her 37 percent in three-point shooting made her reliable from deep for USC.
All three picks have deep roots in basketball. Forbes’ father Sterling Jr played for the Harlem Globetrotters and her grandfather Sterling Sr. was drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1960 as well as played for the Globetrotters. Jackson’s mother Caryn played for the Kansas Jayhawks. Brink’s mother Michelle Bain-Brink worked with Dawn Staley to create her signature shoe as a product line manager for Nike.
